Trade minister fields questions about trade fraud

• NA continues questioning ministers of industry and trade, home affairs
• 13th working day of 14th NA’s eighth session

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh clears up questions raised by National Assembly deputies (Source: VNA)

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh on November 7 cleared up questions raised by National Assembly deputies regarding the aluminum shipment labeled as made-in-Vietnam product and worth 4.3 billion USD to the US by a Chinese-invested business in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

During a question-and-answer session within the framework of the ongoing eighth plenary session of the NA, he said after learning about the shipment of aluminum, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) coordinated with the Ministry of Finance, the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) and the Ministry of Public Security to organise investigation teams in early 2017.

However, no wrongdoings were detected in the granting of product-origin certificates at that time, according to the minister.   

After the business showed abnormalities in their operation, the MoIT asked the GDVC to intensify supervision over the firm’s export-import activities and the batch of aluminum in particular. The ministry also asked other competent agencies, especially the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to keep close control of standards while granting certificates of origin for exports to the US. 

Some deputies expressed their concern at the possibility that the enterprise would turn the batch of aluminum into domestically-consumed goods, Anh said competent agencies will keep a close watch on activities at bonded warehouses and impose import tax on materials in service of consumer goods production at home.

“It is a must to prevent fraud right from the stage of illegal investment,” he said, noting that the fight against trade fraud requires coordination among competent agencies.

The MoIT will partner with other relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Justice, to review legal issues in this regard in the time to come, the minister said.